Mike Wofford

Mike Wofford (born February 28, 1938, in San Antonio, Texas) is a jazz pianist who was raised in San Diego, California. He is best known as an accompanist to and music director for singers Sarah Vaughan (in the 1970s), Ella Fitzgerald (1989–1992).

He was known in the jazz community going back to the 1960s for the albums Strawberry Wine and Summer Night. He settled in Los Angeles and performed with Shorty Rogers, Teddy Edwards, Bud Shank, Red Norvo, Chet Baker, Joe Pass, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Shelly Manne, and Zoot Sims. In the 1970s Wofford toured Europe with Manne and Lee Konitz, in the 1980s Japan with Manne, Sweets Edison and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Japan and Brazil with Benny Carter. Returning to San Diego, he performed with Kenny Burrell, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Charlie Haden, Slide Hampton, Clifford Jordan, Ray Brown, and Charles McPherson. Wofford worked on John Lennon's album Rock 'n' Roll (1975) and in 1973 briefly toured with Roger McGuinn of the Byrds. On August 13, 2012, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 22nd Annual San Diego Music Awards.

Discography

As leader

• Strawberry Wine with John Doling, John Guerin (Epic, 1966)
• Summer Night with Monty Budwig, John Guerin (Milestone, 1968)
• Scott Joplin: Interpretations '76 with Chuck Domanico, Shelly Manne (Flying Dutchman, 1976)
• Afterthoughts (Discovery, 1978)
• Mike Wofford Trio Plays Jerome Kern with Jim Plank, Andy Simpkins (Discovery, 1980)
• Mike Wofford Quartet Plays Jerome Kern Vol. 2 with Jim Plank, Andy Simpkins (Discovery, 1980)
• Plays Jerome Kern Vol. 3 with Jim Plank, Andy Simpkins (Discovery, 1981)
• Sure Thing with Jim Plank, Andy Simpkins, Tom Azarello, Monty Budwig, John Guerin (Discovery, 1981)
• Funkallero with Sherman Ferguson, Andy Simpkins, Paul Sundford (Trend, 1987)
• Plays Gerald Wilson: Gerald's People with Richie Gajate Garcia, Rufus Reid (Musicraft, 1989)
• Mike Wofford at Maybeck (Concord Jazz, 1991)
• Synergy with Joe LaBarbera, Rob Thorsen (Heavywood, 1998)
• Time Cafe with Duncan Moore, Darek Oleszkiewicz (Azica, 2001)
• Turn Signal with Holly Hofmann (Capri, 2012)
• It's Personal (Capri, 2013)

As sideman

With Elek Bacsik

• Bird and Dizzy – a Musical Tribute (Flying Dutchman, 1975)

With Kenny Burrell

• Both Feet on the Ground (Fantasy, 1973)

With Gil Fuller

• Night Flight (Pacific Jazz, 1965)

With Richard "Groove" Holmes

• Six Million Dollar Man, (RCA/Flying Dutchman, 1975)

With John Klemmer

• Constant Throb (Impulse!, 1971)

With Shelly Manne

• Jazz Gunn (Atlantic, 1967)
• Perk Up (Concord Jazz, 1967 [1976])
• Daktari (Atlantic, 1967)
• Alive in London (Contemporary, 1970)
• Mannekind (Mainstream, 1972)
• Essence (Galaxy, 1977)
• French Concert (Galaxy, 1977 [1979]) with Lee Konitz

With Oliver Nelson

• Skull Session (Flying Dutchman, 1975)
• Stolen Moments (East Wind, 1975)

With Howard Roberts

• Antelope Freeway (Impulse!, 1971)
• Equinox Express Elevator (Impulse!, 1972)

With Sonny Stitt

• Dumpy Mama (Flying Dutchman, 1975)

With Gerald Wilson

• California Soul (Pacific Jazz, 1968)
• Lomelin (Discovery, 1981)

External links

• Official site
• Mike Wofford Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2010)
• All Music